Community as a superpower in action: the UK Young Academy’s reflections for World Refugee Day

The theme of Refugee Week this year is Community as a superpower, which speaks to the power of collective goodwill and how the accumulation of small actions can transform lives.

Since joining the UKYA community as inaugural members in 2023, we have had the privilege of leading the At-Risk Scholars and Professionals (ARSaP) programme, an initiative that supports at-risk early-career individuals  — those who have faced displacement due to forced exile, migration, or who have arrived in the UK under refugee status.

As an organisation, the UKYA seeks to find solutions to the challenges facing the world, and we believe this requires an inclusive approach, with contributions from as many different people as possible. Running a programme that both supports at-risk individuals but also welcomes them into our membership fosters reciprocity and ultimately enriches the UKYA community, broadening intellectual diversity and bringing valuable and alternative perspectives to global challenges.

Background

This initiative began with our participation in a Global Young Academy workshop, which gave an invaluable insight into the complexity and gravity of the challenges these individuals face.

At-risk individuals often face an array of personal and professional barriers. In their personal lives, they may experience culture shock, language barriers, financial constraints and a lack of support networks. Navigating bureaucratic processes such as visa applications, accessing healthcare and making sense of education systems for dependents can add additional strain and stress.

Professionally, at-risk individuals encounter difficulties such as adapting to different research cultures, overcoming language barriers in academic settings, and rebuilding professional networks which can support them to navigate new systems. These challenges can prevent them from resuming their research activities and advancing their careers.

Drawing on the success of similar programmes delivered by the Global Young Academy and the Young Academy of Scotland and others, the UKYA decided to launch the At-Risk Scholars and Professionals (ARSaP) programme. The project aims to provide targeted support to address key barriers faced by at-risk individuals through a four-stranded approach:

1.           Establishing a route for membership to the UKYA

Traditional application processes often unfairly disadvantage at-risk individuals who are more likely to have non-linear academic journeys or gaps in their academic record. In collaboration with the Council for At-Risk Academics (Cara), the UKYA created a separate route to membership for at-risk individuals.

This route ensures that the unique challenges faced by these individuals are considered, whilst maintaining the same rigorous assessment principles and criteria.

2.           Mentorship

Known as the hidden curriculum, often at-risk individuals must navigate implicit norms, values, and expectations that shape academic life in the UK — knowledge that is rarely articulated and often inaccessible to those not already embedded within the system.

Through our collaboration with Cara, the UKYA connects at-risk individuals with established UK academics who guide grant applications, publication protocols, contract negotiations, and other aspects of the hidden curriculum. These one-to-one mentoring relationships offer not just academic advice but also a safe space where at-risk individuals feel confident to ask for advice from their supportive network.

3.           Skills training and development

Since academic currency is publications and proposal writing, at-risk individuals must have the skills to negotiate these systems in the UK. This can be especially challenging if there is a language barrier. Therefore, the UKYA organises workshops which provide practical career development skills, from CV writing to interview preparation, and from grant applications to exploring non-academic career paths.

4.           A guide to UK academia

To demystify the UK’s academic system and hidden curriculum, the UKYA is developing an accessible online resource, Introduction to UK Academia. This guide will cover various aspects, including research assessment frameworks, professional roles, funding bodies, and institutional structures, providing at-risk individuals with a comprehensive overview to navigate their new academic environment.

Looking ahead

The research landscape is becoming increasingly and disproportionately challenging for at-risk individuals, with difficulties obtaining visas and less funding for international travel and collaboration.

Moving forward, we hope to see the programme evolve by:

• Incorporating the lived experience feedback from members who have joined through the at-risk scheme, some of whom have now joined the project’s organising committee
• Ensuring that the programme is sustainable for the future
• Expanding support for at-risk individuals working in industry and entrepreneurship, as well as academia
• Building partnerships with other organisations to enhance our understanding of the support available for at-risk scholars, thereby helping us to address need gaps
• Championing the UKYA’s role in undertaking evidence-based research to support at-risk individuals

Working on this initiative has been incredibly rewarding and is a constant learning curve in an ever-changing world.

We are very grateful to all UKYA members and collaborators who have often voluntarily contributed to the success of this project and continue to sustain our belief in the power of collective goodwill.